AGT runner-up Angelica Hale forced to stay on stage

The producers of ‘America’s Got Talent’ displayed a shocking lack of tact during the show’s live finale on Wednesday, which saw the program’s two youngest contestants forced to deal with a live elimination that lasted 30 minutes while standing alone on stage.

One of those contestants, 12-year-old ventriloquist Darci Lynne, ultimately went home the winner, while the other, 10-year-old singer Angelica Hale, endured all that tension only to be declared the runner-up.

The stressful nature of the set-up got to be too much for Angelica at one point, as she broke down in tears even before learning that she had not won the top prize.

She could be seen trying to dry her face with both hands as tears streamed down her cheeks towards the end of the program.

That moment was then played up by the show’s producers, who chose to zoom in on the weeping child.

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What doesn’t kill you…: ‘America’s Got Talent’ did a live elimination of the show’s top five acts during the live finale on Wednesday night (l to r: Angelica Hale, host Tyra Banks and Darci Lynne)

Makes you stronger: The stressful nature of the set-up got to be too much for Angelica at one point, as she broke down in tears on live television (above)

Too much tension: Angelica could be seen trying to dry her face with both hands (above) as tears streamed down her cheeks

Difficult moment: Darci tried her best to keep from crying on national television as well towards the end (above)

Over at last: Once Darci was announced as the winner (above), Angelica’s crying immediately stopped however, suggesting that her tears had more to do with stress

It was at around 9:30pm on Wednesday that the show’s five finalists were brought out on stage and began to be eliminated one by one.

In the end, it was the two children who were left standing, with Darci going up Angelica Hale for the top prize.

The two girls were alone with host Tyra Banks for more than 10 minutes, and just before the former supermodel revealed the winner both girls seemed to be emotionally exhausted.

Angelica began wiping tears from her face while Darci tried her best to keep from crying on national television.

Once Darci was announced as the winner, Angelica’s crying immediately stopped however, suggesting that her tears had more to do with stress and less to do with the show’s outcome.

At that point, the girls had endured three eliminations and three lengthy commercial breaks, which made for a very long 30 minutes.